With seven teams out on the bye this week there are a couple of timely injury returns on the Fantasy front, as coaches look to scrape together a playing 13.
Origin absentees mean there are a heap of cheapies set to play bigger roles for their sides in Round 13, with a handful of rookies named to debut as well.
A reminder that a rule change for 2023 means that in Rounds 13, 16 and 19 only your starting 13 players score points (rather than the usual 17 players).
Dolphins v Dragons, Thursday at Kayo Stadium
Dolphins: $424k HLF Kodi Nikorima has been named at fullback, which could be good news for the 11.5 percent of teams who already own him. With a -2 break even, Nikorima could be more involved at fullback and boost his money making again in Round 13. Ray Stone gets a start at lock and could play increased minutes compared to his usual bench role. Gun rookie CTR Valynce Te Whare ($277k) has been named on the bench for now, but there are some experienced names in the extended reserves, so that could change.
Dragons: Jack Bird is back after sitting out last week with knee soreness, giving the 15 percent who own him a much-needed green dot at CTR or EDG. High-performing MID Jack de Belin switches jersey numbers again from 8 to 13, but his scores as a starter so far have been consistent regardless of position. Zac Lomax is a first-choice centre again under interim coach Ryan Carr, and at $522k could be an attractive option for some with a need in the position.
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Eels v Cowboys, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: New signing Joe Ofahengaue (MID, $456k) comes straight in to start at prop for Junior Paulo. Matt Doorey (EDG, $300k) is back for his first game since Round 9, starting in the back row in place of Andrew Davey (head knock). Luca Moretti comes in for Ryan Matterson, who is a sell after injuring his calf in Round 13. J'maine Hopgood's big-minute role in the middle now looks safe as houses and he's scoring at an elite level.
Cowboys: Zac Laybutt and Robert Derby come into the backline as replacements for Valentine Holmes and Murray Taulagi, who are on Origin duty. Derby's stats in the Queensland Cup this year would correspond to a season average of 37.5 Fantasy points, while Laybutt's would be 35.9. Ben Hampton is named at five-eighth, but expect Scott Drinkwater (WFB, $559k) to assume a more prominent role in attack, which should be good news for his score.
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Warriors v Broncos, Saturday at McLean Park, Napier
Warriors: Jackson Ford, who is in just under 12 percent of all teams, is back in the second row after missing Round 11 due to a head knock. After missing the first 10 weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, Luke Metcalf (HLF, $319k) is named to start at five-eighth, but with Te Maire Martin (leg) due back in the next fortnight he may not have the role for long. HOK Wayde Egan (calf) is out, with Freddy Lussick taking over the No.9 jersey.
Broncos: Adam Reynolds returns after missing last week due to injury, so Jock Madden reverts 18th man. With Selwyn Cobbo in Origin camp, Deine Mariner (CTR, $277k), who averaged 22.5 Fantasy points across two NRL games last year, gets a run on the wing. Tristan Sailor is the fullback, while Kobe Hetherington ($319k) is a good chance of having his best score of the year so far after being named to start at lock while Patrick Carrigan is out.
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Rabbitohs v Raiders, Saturday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: With Cameron Murray, Jai Arrow and Latrell Mitchell out on Origin duty, a handful of cheapies get elevated roles this week. Liam Knight (MID, $361k) starts at lock, while fellow MIDs Tallis Duncan ($230k) and Shaquai Mitchell ($369k) join the bench. Blake Taaffe is the new fullback.
Raiders: Corey Horsburgh owners will be feeling a little nervous after he was named in the second row rather than at lock, where he has excelled in Fantasy over the past six weeks. It remains to be seen how it will impact his scoring, but a move to edge brings with it a potential drop in involvement. Corey Harawira-Naera is back for his first NRL game since Round 9 and will start in the second row with Hudson Young (Origin) and Elliott Whitehead (shoulder) out. Zac Woolford returns from a week out with a head knock to start at hooker. $364k CTR, WFB Nick Cotric has been included on the bench in his return from a hamstring injury.
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Knights v Sea Eagles, Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Bad news for the 18 percent who own Lachlan Miller, with the WFB losing his job at fullback to Kalyn Ponga and dropping back to the interchange, making him a likely sell. Unfortunately, Miller ($553k) has at this point loss a chunk of the value he gained through the early rounds too. On a brighter note, it could mean Ponga ($420k) becomes a cut-price option at WFB. Tyson Gamble (HLF, $355k) starts at five-eighth.
Sea Eagles: After his 51-point return to action last week, Josh Schuster will partner Cooper Johns in the halves with Daly Cherry-Evans out on Origin duty. $220k MID Samuela Fainu gets a start in the second row and should be able to score over his break even of 17 this week. Sean Keppie has the lock role made vacant by Jake Trbojevic's injury, but he is a stay away, with his scores averaging out in the mid 20s even when he starts.
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